The effect of refforestation on some soil properties and understory vegetation in Kolt forests of Mazandaran province

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Mazandaran, Iran

2 Department of Forest Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari,

Abstract

Background and objectives: Reforestation stands can effect on diversity of plant species and soil characteristics of an area. In this study, the effects of 25-year-old reforestation stands with Acer velutinum Bioss., Alnus subcordata C. A. M. and Cupressus sempervirens species on plant biodiversity, understory vegetation and some physico-chemical of soil properties were studied compared with natural forest (Carpinus betulus and Fagus orientalis) in the Kolet forests of Mazandaran province.
Materials and methods: In each reforested stands and natural forest, ten plots (2020 meters) were selectively sampled in transects which were 100-m stretches systematically. Then, the list of all herbaceous species and their abundance (cover percentage) was recorded. Also, in each sample plot, a soil sample was taken from the four corners and its center at a depth of 0-15 cm, then these samples were mixed together and a composite sample were taken to study the physic-chemical characteristics of the soil (bulk density, soil texture, acidity, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, absorbable phosphorus and potassium). The indices of richness (Margalf and Menhenic), evenness (Shannon-Wiener) and diversity (Simpson and Shannon-Wiener) were also studied.
Results: The results showed that reforested stands were significantly different from natural forest (control) in terms of soil reaction rate (P <0.05), potassium, clay and relative soil moisture (P <0.01). Also, the amount of acidity and absorbable potassium reaction in Acer velutinum Bioss mass (6.99, 904.51 mg kg-1) was the highest and lowest in natural mass (6.18, 557.57 mg / kg). It was observed that the highest percentage of clay in natural mass (43.57%) and the lowest percentage in Alnus subcordata mass (39.32%) and the relative moisture in Acer velutinum Bioss mass (40.78%) was the highest and It has the lowest value in Cupressus sempervirens mass (20.12%). But other soil variables did not show significant differences with natural forest. Margalf and Manhenic richness in the four reforestation stands was significantly different (P <0.05). The diversity indices (Simpson, 0.58 and Shannon-Wiener, 1.26) and the richness (Margalf, 2.00 and Mannick, 1.57) were higher in the natural forest than four reforestation stands and the evenness index (Shannon-Wiener, 0.82) showed the highest value in the Cupressus sempervirens stand. Multiple regression of soil variables with the first and second axes of DCA analysis indicates that only potassium has been effective in the separation and differentiation of vegetation in the area and the four studied stands can be distinguished in terms of understory vegetation.
Conclusion: In general, the results of the present study showed that the richness indices of understory vegetation species as well as the characteristics of moisture, soil reaction and adsorbable potassium changed under the influence of reforestation and according to DCA analysis is the most important component in mass segregation. Potassium is an absorbable plant. Also, the study of biodiversity indices showed that the diversity and richness indices were higher due to the fusion of species in the natural massif (Carpinus betulus and Fagus orientalis) compared to the reforested massifs of conifers (Cupressus sempervirens). In other words, the results show a greater protective role of broadleaf stands (Acer velutinum Bioss and Alnus subcordata C.A.M) and natural stands (Carpinus betulus and Fagus orientalis) than needle stands (Cupressus sempervirens) for richness and diversity of understory vegetation species and sustainable maintenance of communities the underside is in the Kolet area.

Keywords


1.Ampoorter, E., Beaten, L., Vanhellemont, M., Bruelheide, H., Scherer‐Lorenzen, M., Baasch, A., Erfmeier, A., Hock, M., and Verheyen, K. 2015. Disentangling tree species identity and richness effects on the herb layer: first results from German tree diversity experiment. Vegetation Science J. 26: 4. 742-755.
2.Asadi, M., Masoumi, A.A., Khatamsaz, M., and Mozaffarian, V. 1992-2002. Flora of Iran. Volumes 1-38. Publications of Forests and Rangelands Research Institute, Tehran University Press, 355p. (In Persian)
3.Asadi, H., Hosseini, S.M., and Ismailzadeh, O. 2011. Introduction of plant communities of Khybus protected area and their relationship with physiographic characteristics and plant biodiversity. J. of Forests and Wood Products (Iranian natural resources).64: 2. 107-127. (In Persian)
4.Abliz, A., Halik, U., Welp, M., and Zhang, L.X. 2015. Effects of Shelterbelt afforestation on soil properties in Kökyar, NW China. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences J. 10: 6. 2017-2036.
5.AhmadiMalakut, E., Soltani, A., and Hasanzad Navrodi, I. 2011. A comparison between understory phytodiversity of a natural forest and forest plantations (Case study: Langerud -Guilan). J. of Forest.3: 2. 157-167. (In Persian)
6.Barbier, S., Gosselin, F., and Balandier, P. 2017. Influence of tree species on understory vegetation diversity and mechanisms involved- A critical review for temperate and boreal forests. Forest Ecology and Management J. 254: 1-15.
7.Cannell, M.G.R. 2003. Carbon sequestration and biomass energy offset: theoretical, potential and achievable capacities globally, in Europe and the UK. Biomass and Bioenergy J. 24: 2. 97-116.
8.Chen, Y., and Cao, Y. 2014. Response of tree regeneration and understory plant species diversity to stand density in mature Pinus tabulaeformis plantations in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China. Ecological Engineering J. 73: 238-245.
9.Crowley, W., Harrison, S.S.C., Coroi, M., and Sacre, V.M. 2003. An ecological assessment of the plant communities at Port Bannaturere serve in South Western Ireland. Biology and Environment J.103: 2. 69-82.
10.Castro, J., Morales- Rueda, F., Navarro, F.B., Vacchiano, G., and Alcaraz- Segura, D. 2021. Precision restoration: A necessary approach to foster forest recovery in the 21st century. Restoration Ecology J. 29: 7. 345-360.
11.Esmailzadeh, O. and Nourmohammadi, K. 2017. Introduction of Total Indicator Value Model in Vegetation Classification. J. of Plant Research.30: 2. 246-263. (In Persian)
12.Ellison, A.M., Bukley, H.B., Case, D., Cardenas, A., Duque, J., Lutz, J., Myers, J., and Orwig, D. 2019. Species Diversity Associated with Foundation Species in Temperate and Tropical Forests. Forests J. 128: 1-34.
13.Fan, J., Oestergaard, K.T., Guyot, A., and Lockington, D.A. 2014. Measuring and modeling rainfall interception losses by a native Banksia woodland and an exotic pine plantation in subtropical coastal Australia. Hydrology J. 515: 156-165.
14.Foth, H.D., and Ellis, B.G. 1988. Soil fertility. Published by Wiley, 304p.
15.Fuss, S., Lamb, W.F., Callaghan, M.W., Hilaire, J., Creutzig, F., Amann, T., Beringer, T., De Oliveira Garcia, W., Hartmann, J., and Khanna, T.
2018. Negative emissions-Part 2:Costs, potentials and side effects. Environmental Research Letters,13: 6. 063002. ISSN 1748- 9326.
16.Ghahraman, A. 1984. Colorful flora of Iran. Volume 1-22. Forests and Rangelands Research Institute. Tehran, 125p. (In Persian)
17.Gee, G.W., and Bauder, J.W. 1982. Particle-size analyses. In: Klute, A. (Eds), Method of Soil Analyses,Part: Physical and Mineralogical Methods, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, pp. 383-411.
18.Gao, T., Hedblom, M., Emilsson, T., and Nielsen, A.B. 2014. The role of forest stand structure as biodiversity indicator. Forest Ecology and Management J.330: 82-93.
19.Gorik, V., Lander, B., Pieter, D.F., Margot, V., Arno, T., Wim, B., Bart, M., and Kris, M. 2015. Vaderstory vegetation shifts following the conversion of temperate deciduous forest to the spruce plantation. Forest Ecology and Management J. 289: 363-370.
20.Gilliam, F.S., and Dick, D.A. 2010. Spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients and plant species in herb-dominated  communities of contrasting land use. Plant Ecology J. 209: 83-94.
21.Houshmand, A., Moshki, R., Mollashahi, M., Amiri, M., and Kia Kianian, M. 2019. Soil and silvicultural characteristics in plantations of Prunus avium L. and Acer velutinum Boiss. in the west forest of Mazandaran, J.of Wood and Forest Science and Technology. 26: 1. 37-48. (In Persian)
22.Ritchie, H., and Roser, M. 2021. Forests and Deforestation Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved
from: https://ourworldindata.org/forests-and-deforestation.
23.Core Team, R. 2021. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. URL https://www.R-project.org/.
24.Haghvardi, K. 2015. Influence of native and non-native forestry series of Orchard Garden Tea on plant biodiversity and woody species regeneration. J. of Plant Research.28: 3. 522-534. (In Persian)
25.Huo, H., Feng, Q., and Su, Y. 2014. The Influences of Canopy Species and Topographic Variables on Understory Species Diversity and Composition in Coniferous Forests. The Scientific World J. pp. 1-8.
26.Hammer, Q., David, A., Harper, T., and Ryan, P.D. 2001. PAST: Paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica J. 4: 1. 1-9.
27.Hill, M.O. 1973. Diversity and evenness; A unifying notation and its consequences. Ecology J. 54: 427-432.
28.Heydari, M.P., and Mahdavi, A.S. 2014. Ecological evaluation of watershed projects based on vegetation composition and soil physical and chemical properties. J. of Zagros Forests Research. 1: 1. 93-108. (In Persian)
29.Iran’s Forests and Rangelands Organization. 2010. Forestry plan of District Three of Neka-Zalemroud forests. Mazandaran Natural Resources Administration Office, Iran. 109p.(In Persian)
30.Ja'fari, G., Tabari Kochaksaraei, M., Hussein, S.M., and Kuch, Y. 2013. Effect of soil factors on plant biodiversity of ecological species group in North Khorasan protected forest.J. of Plant Research. 28: 1. 79-90.(In Persian)
31.Jafari Haghighi, M. 2003. Soil decomposition methods (sampling and important physical and chemical analyzes). Nedaye Zahi Publications. 236p. (In Persian)
32.Jari Oksanen, F., Blanchet, G., Friendly, M., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., McGlinn, D., Peter R., Minchin, R., O'Hara, B., Gavin, L., Simpson, P., Henry, M., Stevens, E., and Wagner, H. 2020. Vegan: Community Ecology Package. R package version 2.5-7. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan
33.Kooch, Y., and Bayranvand, M. 2019. Labile soil organic matter is sensitive to forest floor quality of tree species mixtures in Oriental Beech forests. Ecological Indicators J. 107: 1-10.
34.Ludwig, F., Dekroon, H., Berendse, H.F., and Prins, H.T. 2010. The influence of savanna trees on nutrient, water, and light availability and the understory vegetation. Plant Ecology J. 170: 93-105.
35.Magurran, A.E. 1988. Ecological Diversity and its measurement Princeton. Princeton University Press, London, 280p.
36.Margalef, M. 1958. Information theory in ecology. General Systematics J.3: 36-71.
37.Menhenic, E.F. 1964. A comparison of some species individuals diversity indices applied to sample of field insects. Ecology J. 45: 859-861.
38.Mozaffarian, V. 1996. Dictionary of Iranian Plants. Publications of the Institute of Contemporary Culture, Tehran University. 335p. (In Persian)
39.Moraghebati, F., Koruri, A.H., and Teymuri, M. 2001. Investigating the Effects of Eucalyptus, Poplar, and Silver Serving Against Damage and Some Soil Properties in Sheikh Neshin and Saravan Stations in Guilan Province. J. of Pajouhesh and Sazandegi. 53: 14. 26-34. (In Persian)
40.Moslemi Seyed Mahalle, S.M., Jalali, S.G., Hojjati, S.M., and Kooch, Y. 2020. The Effect of Different Forest types on Soil Properties and Biodiversity of Grassland cover and Regeneration in central Hyrcanian Forests (Case Study: Seri-Alandan-Sari). J. of Ecology of Iranian Forests. 7: 14. 10-21. (In Persian)
41.Mesdaghi, M. 2005. Plant ecology. Mashhad Univ. 187p. (In Persian)
42.Mohammadnezhad Kiasari, S., Sagheb-Talebi, K., Rahmani, R., Adeli, E., Jafari, B., and Jafarzadeh, H. 2009. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of natural and planted forests at Darabkola Area in East of Mazandaran. J. of Forest and Poplar Research.18: 23-32.
43.Mirzaei, J., Heydari, M., and Atar- Roshan, S. 2015. Changes in vegetation and plant species biodiversity after industrial logging in Shafaroud forest, Guilan. J. of Plant Research.28: 2. 435-444. (In Persian)
44.Mutlu, B. 2019. The effect of afforestation on biodiversity in Malatya, Turkey. Ecology and Environmental Research J. 17: 6. 12787-12798.
45.Neill, C., Piccolo, M.C., Cerri, C.C., Steudler, P.A., Melillo, J.M., and Brito, M. 1997. Net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification rates in soils following deforestation for pasture across the southwestern Brazilian Amazon Basin landscape. Oecologia J. 110: 2. 243-252.
46.Norden, U. 1994. The influence of broad-leaved tree species on pH and organic matter content of forest topsoils in Scania, South Sweden. Scand J.9: 1. 1-8.
47.PourRahmati, G.H. 2005. Study of the effect of forest planning on biodiversity of vegetation in west Guilan, Master's Thesis of Natural Resources Faculty. Guilan University, 92p.
48.Pourbabaei, H., Fakharirad, M., and Meraji, A. 2005. Study on structure and plant species diversity in the box tree (Buxus hyrcana Pojark) sites, eastern Guilan, Iran. P 20-88, 17th International Botanical Congress, Vienna, Austria, Europe.
49.Rechinger, K.H. 2005. Flora Iranica, Akademish, Druck University Graz,Vol 1-176.
50.Rafeie Jahed, R., Hosseini, S.M., and Kooch, Y. 2016. The effect of overstory layer on soil physicochemical properties in a forest ecosystem. J. of Wood and Forest Science and Technology.23: 4. 1-24. (In Persian)
51.Rostamabadi, A., Tabari, M., Jalilvand, H., and Salehi, A. 2014. Impacts of Alder (Alnus subcordata) plantation on nutrient and plant diversity in site of Parrotia-Carpinetum natural forest. J. of Renewable Natural Resources Research. 5: 1. 15-28. (In Persian)
52.Segura, C., Jiménez, M.N., Fernández-Ondoño, E., and Navarro, F.B. 2021. Effects of Afforestation on Plant Diversity and Soil Quality in Semiarid SE Spain. Forests J. 12: 12. 17-30.
53.Uri, V., Tullus, H., and Lohmus, K. 2002. Biomass production and nutrient accumulation in short-rotation grey
alder (Alnusi ncana L.) Moench plantation on abandoned agricultural land. Forest Ecology and Management J. 161: 169-179.
54.Zare Chahouki, M.A., Nodehi, R., and Tavili, A. 2010. Investigation on the relationship between plant diversity and environmental factors in Eshtehard rangelands. J. of Arid Biome Scientific and Research. 1: 2. 41-48. (In Persian)
55.Zerbo, I., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Ouédraogo, O., Hahn, K., and Thiombiano, A. 2016. Effects of climate and land use on herbaceous species richness and vegetation composition in West African savanna ecosystems. Botany J. 2: 1-11.
56.Zarin-Kafsh, M. 2002. Forestry Soil. Interaction of soil and plants regarding ecological factors forests ecosystems. Forest and Rangelands Research Institute Press, 376p. (In Persian)